Nordic / Germanic Mysticism

Nordic / Germanic Mysticism has two components to it, the Runes and the Yggdrasil
Tree. There are a couple different Futharks of the Runes, the most
popular being the Elder. To start there are different interpretations of
the Runes, from the popular new age varieties
to the Left-Hand Path version by the Rune Gild. I personally believe each
individual carries his own personality and educational background in the system
he or she creates, but some degree of reconstruction is necessary for a system that was halted by Christian forces.

The Yggdrasil Tree

Asgard - Realm of the Aesir Vanaheim - The Realm of the Vanir
Ljossalfheim - The Realm of the Light Elves Midgard - Middle Realm
Muspellsheim - Realm of the Fire Svartalfheim - Realm of the Black Elves
(Dwarves) Jotunheim - Realm of the Giants Helheim - Abode of the Dead
Nifelheim - Realm of Ice

The Runes

There are 24 runes of the Elder Futhark and 16 in the Younger Futhark.
The mythology for the runes is in the Havamal verses 138 - 139. I find it
interesting that Odin suffers for knowledge, which expands and opens the
unknown, while Jesus's sacrifice is an accusing of creation, a negation of the
search into the unknown. It is also interesting to note that the gift of Odin,
Vili, and Ve was the ability to understand, which is eqivalent to the fruit of
the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which was forbidden by the
Judeo-Christian God. Now onto the verse.

I wot that I hung on the wind-tossed tree all of nights nine,
wounded by a spear, bespoken to Othin, bespoken myself to myself, upon that
tree of which none telleth from roots it doth rise. Neither horn they
upheld nor handed me bread; I looked below me, aloud I cried, caught up the
runes, caught them up wailing, thence to the ground fell again.

The Poetic Edda by Lee M Hollander

Now as to my personal interpretation of the Runes, I found the literature of
Edred Thorsson fascinating, his system seems to blend in with the reading of
Nietzsche that I have been doing.

Their could be crossovers from other philosophical based systems, first of
all, many gods are considered hypostases of Odin, I am not sure if the ancient
Nordics had this concept, but this shows a knowledge into other areas, in this
respect Neoplatonism.
Also this theory is a strong component of an emanationist
cosmology, which has downward
causation as it's basis. Now when I read the Nordic creation myth it seems
as if their is a basis for upward causation, this can be an interesting point of
contention, but now onto the Runes. It seems that the three aetts each have a specific focus. The first seems to concentrate on a progression of energy and forces, the second on the individual, the third on the critique of the cosmos. I will now go into a personal explanation of the first aett, by using the human body as an example.

The human body is entirely reactive, everything, the metabolic processes, the hunger we feel, the tiredness we feel, the way we build muscle, burn fat etc.. Think of this complex
system as Fehu it is dynamic and complex but reactive. What happens when
we exercise, take supplements to lose weight or build muscle, essentially an
active force is developing out body. This active force is Uruz. Now we
have a continuum, at one end, developed reactive force(the will to laziness,
overeating, etc.) that stops the development, stops the active forces, but at
the other end, the affirmative will that is the precursor to development,
symbolized very greatly in Thor's Hammer. This will to power is Thurisaz,
both the negative, represented in the Thurses, and the affirmative in Thor's
Hammer. Next comes perception and understanding,which is Ansuz, the
Odinnic consciousness, if I keep the body reference, this would be the
perception and understanding of one's body, how it works, what routines, and
supplements would help. Now I have to follow a correct method to implement my
will, this method Raidho, I have read that this is referred to as Thor's
Chariot, I like the fact that affirmative will and proper method have a common
linkage, I could sit in my room, and I say that I will to lose fat or build
muscle, but I have to engage in the weightlifting and cardiovascular exercise to
acheive the desired effect. How do I create change, by a culmination of the last two runes, the combination of an understanding of the situation with an implementation of
the proper method acheives the desired change, Kennoz. Now if I skip Gebo, and go to Wunjo which is joy, we see the Nietzschean statement that my will is
my creator and joy, because Wunjo is the joy one feels by the implementation of the personal will to acheive the desired effect. Gebo is stated as a gift, if I keep the body reference, the caffeine / ephedra stack makes weight loss much more effective, I am receiving outside help to acheive change, I am receiving a gift. This "gift", helps me acheive my goal easier.

I know there will be individuals who will not like my analogy because I have
used a material concept, the body. I have also met a specific individual who was
actually very insultive to me, because I used a philosophical approach to
understanding this system. His opinion is that I would of been more successful in
understanding these concepts, if I sang a song, and visualized nice little lights, and stood in various positions. I guess everybody has their own method.

Looking back, I really see a lot in this, because there is a strong
philosophy, it is not a bunch of overly mystical, transcendental concepts that
must be feeled. It is also strongly life affirming, and individualistic, alot of
other mysticisms make me feel as if I am entering a Borg Cube. I see in the
runes as a method for understanding the forces and concepts of the universe,
sort of like how the Egyptianneteru were viewed by the sacerdotal caste. If you have any comments or
would like to have a discussion in a civilized, respectful manner, feel free to
send an email, I enjoy an intelligent
discussion. I especially would like comments from ritual oriented people, but
please have an intelligent basis on how the ritual works, for example, it tunes
your mind to one thought to such a degree that it creates a form in the psychic world
that emananates to the material,
if you happen to believe in an emanationist
cosmology. Give a description, rather than it some abstract phrase. I hoped you enjoyed my essay, thanks for reading.